Goalkeeper Diego Lopez made an inspired debut for Milan as he helped them beat Lazio 3-1 in their first competitive game under new coach Filippo Inzaghi yesterday.

Milan raced into a 3-0 lead in little more than an hour with goals from Keisuke Honda, Sulley Muntari and a Jeremy Menez penalty.

But Lazio, who had more chances throughout the game, came back strongly after defender Alex, making his debut after a move from Paris St Germain, put through his own goal.

Lopez saved a stoppage-time penalty from Antonio Candreva as the former Real Madrid goalkeeper kept the lead intact.

Former Italy and Milan forward Inzaghi became the latest to occupy the hot seat after Massimiliano Allegri and Clarence Seedorf were both fired last season.

Milan completed the signing of Fernando Torres from Chelsea shortly before kick-off but their finishing was efficient enough without him.

In front of a disappointing San Siro crowd, they got off to an ideal start when Stephan El Shaarawy burst forward and found Honda who scored unmarked at the back post in the seventh minute.

Ghana midfielder Muntari was left completely alone as he turned in Ignazio Abete’s cross from close range in the 56th minute, then Menez appeared to make the game safe as he won and converted a penalty eight minutes later.

But Lazio, playing their first competitive game under new coach Stefano Poli, suddenly came back into the game when Alex turned Candreva’s cross beyond Lopez three minutes later.

Stefano Mauri clipped the crossbar as they continued to press, then Lopez made a superb close-range save to deny Candreva before saving the same player’s weak penalty.

Later in the evening, Jonathan De Guzman earned Napoli a winning start to the Serie A season with a goal on his debut in the fifth minute of stoppage time breaking Genoa’s hearts.

The former Swansea City midfielder sprang from the bench to score the decisive goal at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris and ensure Napoli bounced straight back from their Champions League elimination in midweek with a 2-1 victory.

Jose Callejon had given Rafael Benitez’s men the lead in an entertaining game which saw chances at both ends.

Mauricio Pinilla levelled before the break for the hosts, but that proved not to be enough for a point as De Guzman struck deep into stoppage time.

Goalkeeper, Samir Handanovic saved a penalty and Nemanja Vidic was sent off as Torino held Inter to a 0-0 draw.

Vidic was making his Serie A debut. The former Manchester United defender was adjudged to have brought down Fabio Quagliarella after 19 minutes but Marcelo Larrondo saw Handa-novic saving the penalty.

Late on, Inter had penalty appeals for a foul on Icardi but this time the referee waved play on.

Vidic sarcastically applauded the referee moments later and the official reacted with a red card.

Antonio Di Natale struck twice against Empoli as Udinese and their new coach Andrea Stramaccioni enjoyed a perfect start to the Serie A campaign.

The former Empoli forward put the hosts on their way in the 57th minute before adding his second five minutes later to hand Udinese all three points.

Empoli went into the encounter at the Friuli stadium looking to make an impact in their first Serie A game in six years.

However, they were without the services of injured striker Massimo Maccarone and first tested Udinese keeper Orestis Karnezis in the 87th minute.

Serie A

Played yesterday

Atalanta 0
Verona 0

Att: 4,523.

Cesena 1
Rodriguez 38;
Parma 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 14,400.

Genoa 1
Pinilla 40;
Napoli 2
Callejon 3; De Guzman 90;

HT: 1-1. Att: 25,000.

Milan 3
Honda 7; Muntari 56; Menez 64 pen;
Lazio 1
Alex 67og;

HT: 1-0. Att: 36,674.
Missed penalty: Candreva (L) 90.

Palermo 1
Dybala 7;
Sampdoria 1
Gastaldello 90;

HT: 1-0. Att: 16,764.
Red card: Regini (S) 41.

Sassuolo 1
Zaza 42;
Cagliari 1
Sau 44;

HT: 1-1. Att: 19,800.

Torino 0
Inter 0

Att: 25,000.
Missed penalty: Larrondo (T) 20.
Red card: Vidic (I) 90.

Udinese 2
Di Natale 57, 62;
Empoli 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 12,000.

Next fixtures
September 13-14: Cagliari vs Atalanta; Empoli vs Roma; Fiorentina vs Genoa; Verona vs Palermo; Inter vs Sassuolo; Juventus vs Udinese; Lazio vs Cesena; Napoli vs Chievo; Parma vs Milan; Sampdoria vs Torino.

Lega Pro – A
Alessandria vs Mantova - 1-0
Bassano vs Pavia - 0-1
Como vs Sudtirol - 0-0
Cremonese vs Albinoleffe - 0-0
FeralpiSalo vs Vicenza - 1-0
Lumezzane vs Pordenone - 2-0
Monza vs Novara - 2-0
Pro Patria vs Torres - 0-1
Venezia vs Renate - 3-0

Lega Pro – B
Ancona vs Savona - 1-1
Forli vs Reggiana - today, 20.45
Grosseto vs Piacenza - 0-1
L’Aquila vs Gubbio - 0-0
Lucchese vs Santarcangelo - 0-0
Pisa vs Teramo - 3-1
Pistoiese vs Asoli - 0-1
Spal vs Pontedera - 0-3
San Marino vs Prato - 1-1
Tuttocuoio vs Carrarese - 0-0

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